Russian Interests Behind the Nationalist Movement in Romania: Are We Drifting Away from the US?

Interview with Rufin Zamfir for Ziare.com

September 2016

Russian propaganda is visible in Bucharest and must be assessed beginning with Moscow’s interests in Romania. We can speak of Russian interests inside the nationalist movement, since feeding nationalism is one of the main ways Moscow’s message permeates states Russia has interests in, according to analyst Rufin Zamfir, Program Director at Global Focus.

Russian propaganda is visible in Bucharest and must be assessed beginning with Moscow’s interests in Romania. We can speak of Russian interests inside the nationalist movement, since feeding nationalism is one of the main ways Moscow’s message permeates states Russia has interests in, according to analyst Rufin Zamfir, Program Director at Global Focus.

Russia is challenging the rules established on the European continent – yet it is also challenging global order and US domination. This prompts the fear that a compromise between great powers would first of all sacrifice the interests of Eastern Europe, which are relatively minor compared to other international files.

Much has been written and discussed these days on the NATO Summit that starts on Friday, often comprising contradictory information: either that Romania is on the losing side, or that on the contrary, it’s on the winning side, either that we embarrassed ourselves with the fleet topic, or that this is not our fault. Correspondence from Warsaw.

Officially we are doing well. Due to Romania’s vague strategic stance, but also authorities’ concern with posing as champions of the Eastern flank, conclusions of the NATO Summit are now floating in a mist of confusion when it comes to a verdict: was it or was it not a success for Romania? The answer is no. We are, however, in a context of higher allied security.

Iohannis went to Munich just as Romania’s football team usually takes part in some game: he took part, but didn’t want the victory enough. It’s not only his fault: but also years of uninspired foreign policy that brought Romania to a marginal position. The president proves that he has understood how far he should go and along which lines. The pace of changes and global crises does not have the patience, however, for the head of state to get familiar with diplomacy: he must learn fast and deliver!

It’s the main lesson of the British referendum. We got here because we refused to sit down and see the clear and numerous signs of our collective vulnerabilities and failures, and do something about them. Lest we come to our senses now, next time (because there will definitely be a next time, even if elsewhere) the decision will be to Leave.

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